Canada’s Soaring Immunoglobulin Use Sparks Oversight Calls

Bill Wallard of St. Catharines, Ontario, experienced debilitating symptoms later diagnosed as myasthenia gravis and found relief through immunoglobulin treatments, drugs made from human blood plasma.

Demand for these plasma-derived medicines is rapidly increasing in Canada, becoming one of the highest per-capita consumers globally. Public spending on these drugs exceeded $1-billion last year, representing two-thirds of the Canadian Blood Services (CBS) budget.

The rising costs and demand are prompting concerns about sustainability and equitable access. Canada imports most of the plasma needed for production, leading to expansion of for-profit plasma collection clinics.

Experts note inconsistent oversight across provinces contributes to potentially inappropriate prescribing, diverting limited supplies from patients with critical needs. Saskatchewan successfully lowered its immunoglobulin usage through a stewardship program tracking prescriptions and standardizing ordering. CBS is initiating a similar tracking system, beginning in Ottawa, to improve accountability and data collection, hoping to address the systemic issues driving high consumption.